Watson for Hussey as the only Aussie change I'd say. Lords has to me confirmed my concerns - that Hussey can no longer bat for long enough periods of time at Test level. Still a good player, but Test cricket is about guys who can bat for a day and I don't think he can anymore. Just a gut feeling more than anything. He is still looking ok and will make runs, but something tells me he has made his last Test hundred.

At the present time Johnson can not be relied upon to do his bowling job. It is a harsh call and I assume that he would come back soon and be better than before, but for the immediate time we can not carry his poor form.

I'd have to be pretty convinced that Watson's bowling form is better than the pies he bowled at T20 WC before I picked him in the side.

The form and mind frame of Hughes is a big worry too. Wish Hodge was in the squad. A re-jiggle of Hussey to opener would either re-ignite his career or see him out of the team (note this is a bit of a back-flip for me on Hussey oppening).

Don't think Johnson should be dropped. If you look at Johnson's form line it follows something like:

1. Johnson enters series with big rep
2. While somehow still taking wickets, Johnson bowls badly, leading people to denounce him as overrated and call for his dropping. (We are currently here)
3. Johnson tears a match or two apart.

I'd hang out for stage 3 a bit longer yet.

Originally Posted by Irfan

We may not like you, your filthy rich coffers or your ratbag scum of supporters but by god do we respect you as a football team

Reckon if he bats well, he could well turn his bowling form around pretty quickly. There doesn't appear to be anything physically wrong with him, but we always hear he's a confidence bowler and at the moment, I think that's his biggest problem.

Don't think Johnson should be dropped. If you look at Johnson's form line it follows something like:

1. Johnson enters series with big rep
2. While somehow still taking wickets, Johnson bowls badly, leading people to denounce him as overrated and call for his dropping. (We are currently here)
3. Johnson tears a match or two apart.

I'd hang out for stage 3 a bit longer yet.

He's never bowled anywhere near this badly before though. Really hope he comes good again. That spell in South Africa where he injured their team was one of the best spells of fast bowling I've ever seen.

Last edited by Uppercut; 20-07-2009 at 03:55 AM.

Originally Posted by indiaholic

Ireland on the other hand are everything that is good and just and beautiful in this world.

No thanks. Only changes for me are picking 2 of Lee, Clark, Siddle and Johnson to go with Hilfenhaus and Hauritz. I was of the opinion that Siddle should be a definite, but by opinion has changed.

I want to see the same batting line up retained, Hussey, Hughes and Katich were all not out, Katich is undroppable anyway, and if his foot was that little bit back on the delivery he still probably would have been out. North, well I want to see him get another shot. As I said up a little bit, he has made centuries against South Africa and in the first Test at Cardiff, surely you can't turn around and drop him the very next match?

Originally Posted by wfdu_ben91

Hopefully Johnson does something worth while with the bat tonight which makes him undroppable.

He's never bowled anywhere near this badly before though. Really hope he comes good again. That spell in South Africa where he injured their team was one of the best spells of fast bowling I've ever seen.

Well I'd imagine this win for England will be a kick in the butt for the Aussies and I doubt they will have a first innings as bad as this one. Still England will be buzzing as well thanks to this first win.